How Purpose Built Student Housing Really Works with Zach Feldman

What changes when an apartment is rented one bedroom at a time instead of one unit at a time?

For Zach Feldman, that is one of the big ideas behind a student housing portfolio that has grown to thousands of beds across the country.

Expanded Description

Zach’s firm has built more than 5,000 student housing beds and currently owns and operates about 4,300, with another 1,000 under construction.

He explains how purpose built student housing differs from traditional multifamily. Residents sign individual bedroom leases, units come fully furnished, and the best locations are close enough to campus that students can walk there in minutes.

Zach also explains why the business is not easy. Development approvals are becoming more costly and difficult. A soft cost package that may once have cost around $50,000 can now reach $500,000 or even $1 million before the developer knows whether a project will move ahead.

He also shares how annual turnover and preleasing affect the business, including why leasing can begin a full year before a building opens.

Key Topics and Takeaways

• Why student housing is rented by the bed
• How four bedroom units change the revenue per square foot
• Why pedestrian access to campus matters
• How large institutional buyers participate in student housing
• Why entitlement costs have become a major barrier
• How student housing can be preleased before construction is complete

Guest Information

Zach Feldman is a student housing developer and owner operator. His firm has built more than 5,000 student housing beds across markets ranging from upstate New York to Arizona.

Email: gf@aptitudere.com

Website: aptitudere.com

Call to Action

Zach invited anyone interested in discussing student housing, upcoming opportunities, or real estate in general to contact him directly.

Email: gf@aptitudere.com

Website: aptitudere.com